GNYHA’s Federal legislative agenda for the remainder of 2022 highlights the many challenges hospitals and health systems currently face and includes health care provider financial relief, graduate medical education (GME) and physician workforce expansion, COVID-19 waivers and flexibilities, and Medicare Advantage prior authorization process improvements.
GNYHA will push Congress to prevent the upcoming 4% statutory Pay-As-You-Go cut to Medicare providers that, without congressional action before the end of the year, will begin in Federal calendar year 2023. GNYHA will also ask Congress to urge the Biden Administration to expedite Federal Emergency Management Agency Public Assistance program fund distribution to New York providers and allow greater flexibility on allowable labor expenses.
The nation’s looming physician shortage will only worsen unless Congress acts to lift Medicare GME caps. GNYHA continues to advocate for the passage of the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2021 and the establishment of the Pathway to Practice Training Programs.
The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) highlighted the importance of telemedicine in advancing patient care. GNYHA will urge Congress to enact the Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID-19 Act of 2021, which would extend numerous telehealth policies implemented during the COVID-19 PHE for two years. GNYHA also supports passage of the Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act, which would extend the Acute Hospital Care at Home program for two years after the official end of the COVID-19 PHE.
Lastly, GNYHA will urge Congress to improve Medicare Advantage plans’ prior authorization processes by passing the Seniors Timely Access to Care Act of 2022.
GNYHA will engage with New York’s congressional delegation and other Capitol Hill leaders throughout the remainder of the year, emphasizing the impacts of increased expenses, workforce shortages, and other challenges in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Attachment updated Nov. 10, 2022